Topic: Axilla Lymph Node UPDATE

Mary - I couldn't wait until today to find out how you made out.  Now another wait!  I know the waiting game is the worst part.  Just keep positive (I know that's not easy) and Thursday will soon be here.  If they still don't have the films be pushy and ask for the mammogram anyway.  It's what is there today that counts, not what was on the last one, but I know they like to compare.  Hope your other health problems are resolving.  The lump on your side could be a fatty mass.  My husband had that and had it removed. Hang in there and keep busy.  Did you get the CT scan and blood work or are you waiting for insurance?  Keep us posted.  We care.  Nancy 

Oh sweet Mary, I have read through the posts and what a dang mess!  It seems that it is time something went right for you.

Sounds a lot like Lupus, or another auto-immune thing, just because you seem to be popping out all over, and as you know, Lupus just loves stress, and that is for sure a factor for you.

Please come and post often, we have had a very bad few days here, changes to the site, but things are getting back to normal at last.

You are in my prayers and in my heart.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann

Hi everyone,

Here is the next update. Yesterday, I went to the ER because I couldn't take the pain on my chest and back. It felt as though someone was sitting on me and my back was being stabbed and burned. I told the doctor what my primary doctor had recommended and he did as so. The CT came back negative. My lungs are clear, no cancer. So, good news!!!! However, I have to wait for the blood work results until tomorrow when I see my primary doctor. I asked the ER doctor about the swelling on my rib cage and he said that he doesn't know what that is. It is not coming from the inside of my body. He said that perhaps the blood work will give me some answers.

The day finally came today and had the diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. I was called back a second time to have my left breast done again since they are very dense and the radiologist wanted to make sure of something. That something, I don't know. Then waited for the ultrasound. It doesn't fail that whenever I have an ultrasound, a technician  looks like I can be her mother. I am not against "young" techs but when you are in so much doubt you would rather have someone that is very experienced. Anyhow, to make matters worse, she asks me if I don't mind if a student does the images but she will be right there besides her.  I complied and allowed the student to do the images. I was very paranoid, to say the least, wondering if she knew what she was doing. Perhaps she missed something, did not take measurements correctly, did not probe deep enough? I don't know! but the technician did tell the student more or less what to look for and she also went over the images. In any event, when the lump was found... I never took my eyes off the monitor... I knew it was it.

I asked her for the measurements and told me that the lymph node measured 1.7cm. The last time it measured 2.1. I asked her if she saw anything else and she said no. The radiologist will look at the images and then will proceed  to send them to the clinic where I am being seen. I asked her if the radiologist or a doctor will come in and give me the results. She said no, they are under staffed today and therefore they will not come out and speak with the patients. Okay, so I am so used to having the results given to me on the same day and by now I am almost pulling my very short hair!! I guess the results will be in by Monday or Tuesday.

I have a question for you. Do you get apprehensive when a "young" tech does your ultrasound images? I understand they have to start somewhere in their career; however, when there is something of a significance I think you rather have someone more experienced. I'm I correct or am I being paranoid.

On another note, do you get "puffiness" on your face if you have breast cancer/Lupus? On my left side of my face (top of cheekbone area) below my eye, I have a rounded puffy mass. I've had this for the past month or so. Now, about 2 days ago I noticed on my right side (around lacrimal area) coming down and under my eyes a puffy mass. Today, I looked as if someone had knocked me on my eye!

I'm sorry, but I am trying to put my puzzled body/symptoms together!!

Until tomorrow with more updates.

Mary

Have a blessed night!!

I have not gone through this whole thread, but it sounds like all these tests are really stressful. They would be for anyone!! I am not a doctor, and even if I was, we cannot diagnose you. Only your doc can really put everything in context. Its good not to just chase abnormal labs around - you have to look at the big picture-including your symptoms.

I have not heard of a person who had facial puffiness as their symptom of breast cancer.

I have seen people with lupus who have facial puffiness because they sometimes treat lupus with steroids which can make you puffy. I don't know if lupus can make you puffy if you aren't being treated with steroids. There are many other reasons why you could be puffy.

Of course, I get nervous when I have someone who is inexperienced take care of me. But it also depends on what they are doing and what is going on in your body. You don't want an inexperienced person doing brain surgery on you, because they only do brain surgery on people who have a serious condition. But I don't mind someone inexperienced taking my medication history or taking my blood pressure or doing something that will probably turn out normal.

Most of your abnormal labs look like they are only barely out of the normal range. These lab value ranges are just that - ranges. You can have pretty 'abnormal' numbers that are nothing to be worried about. I had *very* abnormal numbers the morning after I had surgery, and they just discharged me. They weren't anything to worry about. Different labs have different values of abnormal. I don't know if you recently ate when you had your lab test - if you were fasting when you had this lab done, then you may want to get further testing to rule out diabetes.
I have some lung fibrosis, and I've never had pneumonia (besides walking pneumonia). It says it is minimal, so I wouldn't worry about this unless your doc is worried.
Was you total bilirubin high? It sounds like it wasn't, so I wouldn't worry about this unless your doc is worried.

I know its awfully easy to worry and sometimes it simply isn't possible to not be worried. I don't see any of these labs as being horribly worrisome - it will be fine to wait for what your doctor says for the final word.

My mother had 'laboratory lupus' - she tested positive by laboratory results, but she never had symptoms of lupus. She died about 35 years later from unrelated causes after having a positive ANA, and never had lupus symptoms.

Here is another update since my last mamo and ultrasound.
ULTRASOUND STUDY OF THE BILATERAL BREASTS.

"The patient had ultrasound with attention to the right axillary area because of clinical history. There is an oval 17x6.3x6 mm circumscribed structure which may have some mild distal acoustic enhancement. It has a relatively lucent center and some slight vascular signal in its center. It could represent a Lymph node which is replaced with some fat in the center. I am uncertain as to its exact etiology. I suggest correlation for any palpable abnormalities in this area. A follow up ultrasound with attention to this in approximately 8 weeks."

"The left breast was evaluated by ultrasound because of mammographic density. All four quadrants of the retroareolar area on the left were surveyed. There is no abnormal solid or cyst mass identified on the left."

IMPRESSION

"Small circumscribed 17mm lession in the right axilla, possibly a small fatty replaced Lymph node. This should represent a benign structure. No abnormal focal mass indentified on survey of the left breast as described above."

INDICATION

Follow up mammogran/RT axilla palpable, survey fo the left breast.

DIAGNOSTIC BILATERAL MOMMORGRAPHY

HISTORY: Right breast axillary node

"The current film mammography was done with radiopaque marker placed at the righ axillary area and axillary tail view was performed. A compression spot film over the left breast and craniocaudal projection was also done. The breasts are heterogenously dense. The left breast appears to be generally more dense than on the previous study. Compresive spot film was done and shows increase in parenchymal glandular density, but no focal abnormality is appreciated.
The apperances of the distribution of parenchymal glandular tissue is otherwise similar to the previous examination. No focal isometric density is noted in the right axillary area in the region of the radiopaque marker. There may be a tiny Lymph node, less than 10mm very deep within the right axilla, not entirely included on the film. There is a small benign calcification in the medial aspect of the left breast and inferior right breast. "

"The patient will have ultrasound directed toward the axillary area of the right breast and survey of the left breast because of the apparent increased density.

The ultrasound showed a small focal area in the right axilla which could represent a small Lymph node with a relatively hypoechoic lucent center, perhaps due to some fatty replacement or atrophy. No sonographic abnormality was seen on the left."

END OF REPORT

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Could you possibly explain what all of this means (highlighted)? If my first ultrasound founded a SOLID mass, as mentioned in my first post, why do I need to wait another 8 WEEKS! Shouldn't I be able to get a biopsy at this point? How can he/radiologist detect benign findings if no biopsy was done? I don't understand the fatty tissue part and then becomes a Lymph node. Could you explain?

I appreciate anything you have to suggest to me. I am more lost now than before! I contacted the clinic and was told that I should just wait for the 8 wks. If anything, contact the radiologist. I went in person, after I picked up the results at the clinic, and was told the radiologist was not in. And, more than likely, he will not be able to do or say anything to me.

Thanks

Dear Mary, Wow, I have no real idea what all that means.  I agree with Shirlann that you need to keep pestering them for a biopsy.  I was lucky that I had a pushy nurse daughter who kept insisting things move along faster.  At least you have their attention and they want to see you again in 8 weeks.  I know that seems like an eternity but in the scheme of things I guess it really isn't.  If it was something really obvious they would have picked it up.  My sister-in-law has lupus so I know it can be very difficult to diagnose.  Hang in there and keep us informed.  Nancy

Hi all,

Thanks so much for your feedback. I'm still hanging in! I've had so much going on with me that it is totally insane.  I am waiting for the next appt. date (11/14) to see what they have to say. I am still not feeling well and I don't know what is going on. But, I try not to think about so many things and keep busy around the house and with the kids. Hopefully, I will start work soon and it may just help me to take my mind off of things. I don't know how I am going to do it since my right knee is still very swollen regarless of what I do.

Well, I don't want to bore you to tears. I just wanted to drop by and say hello. I hope all of you are having a relaxing weekend.

Take care and I talk to you soon.

Mary